The Delaware River is rich in history, ecologically diverse, and critical to the regional economy. Water managers in this basin have a long history of applying innovative, regional solutions to ensure the long-term sustainability of this treasured resource which provides drinking water to over 15 million people in the region.
Pennsylvania and the Delaware River Basin
Testing New Water Quality Monitoring Methods in Philadelphia
USGS demonstrates advanced technologies during a stream gage visit
Paired Air and Water Temperature Monitoring
Next Generation Water Observing System (NGWOS)
Hurricane Henri Water Footprint Data Visualization
As precipitation accumulated over DE, PA, NJ, NY, CT, RI, and MA, stream water levels increased above flood stage in several locations.
Balancing Water Availability and Quality in the Delaware River Basin
New data visualization story show how new USGS science and monitoring can inform water management
Philadelphia Water Resources Monitoring
Real-time water quality information from USGS streamgaging sites in and around the City of Philadelphia
Philadelphia Area Groundwater Level Network
Latest water levels in Philadelphia area aquifers via Pennsylvania Groundwater Watch
In Pennsylvania, the USGS's water-resources roots date back to the late 1800's, with the initiation of streamflow gaging on the Delaware and Susquehanna Rivers and assessments of groundwater resources near Philadelphia. The USGS Pennsylvania Water Science Center continues to provide scientific information about the water resources of the Delaware River Basin, in cooperation with regional and local agencies and stakeholders, and with other USGS Water Science Centers and national programs.
Recent Highlights
- Factsheet - Integrated Water Science Basins: Water Priorities for the Nation
- Publication: Hydro-Climatic Drought
- Publication: Low-flow Patterns, Drivers & Trends
- Factsheet - Integrated Water Availability Assessments: Water Priorities for the Nation
- Next Generation Water Observing System: Delaware River Basin
- Pooling Resources Across Organizations—Multisource Water-Quality Data for the Delaware River Basin
- Online tools for watershed managers: Northeast US
![USGS scientist surveys water levels on the Delaware River while streamflow measurements are made by boat.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/side_image/public/thumbnails/image/DSC07847.jpg?itok=pMJ_UVdO)
Next Generation Water Observing System: Delaware River Basin
Floodplains provide millions of dollars in benefits every year to people in the Chesapeake Bay and Delaware River watersheds
Regional Water Availability Assessment: Delaware River Basin
Paired Air and Water Temperature Monitoring for Next Generation Water Observing System
Delaware River Basin IWAAs Pilot
Streamflow Estimation from Advanced Imaging (LSPIV) in Pennsylvania
Office of the Delaware River Master
Delaware River Basin Focus Area Study
Delaware River Basin Focus Area Study: Process-Based Streamflow Modeling
Delaware River Basin Focus Area Study: Statistical Streamflow Modeling
Delaware River Basin Focus Area Study: Water Use
Delaware River Basin Focus Area Study: Ecological Flow Science
Quantifying Floodplain Ecological Processes and Ecosystem Services in the Delaware River Watershed
Long-term database of historical, current, and future land cover for the Delaware River Basin (1680 through 2100)
Daily-timestep and monthly-timestep estimates of baseflow at 49 reference stream gages located within 25 miles of the Delaware River basin watershed boundary for the years 1950 through 2015
Physico-chemical characteristics and sediment and nutrient fluxes of floodplains, streambanks, and streambeds in the Chesapeake Bay and Delaware River watersheds
Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Water-Quality and Sonar Measurements in Delaware River near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2019
Multi-source surface-water-quality data and U.S. Geological Survey streamgage match for the Delaware River Basin
Estimated Use of Water by Subbasin (HUC8 and HUC12) in the Delaware River Basin, 2010
Fairmount Waterworks, east bank of Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, PA
Fairmount Waterworks, east bank of Schuylkill River, Aquarium Drive, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA. View looking northeast at waterworks from across Schuylkill River. Photo taken December, 1984.
![Field Trip with PAWSC staff to a Delaware River NGWOS station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Video thumbnail for a video. Text reads: Field Trip with the PAWSC to Philadelphia PA. Image of sensor and bridge behind.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/Field%20Trip%20with%20the%20PAWSC%20to%20Philadelphia%20PA.png?itok=Fc8XVLWc)
The Delaware River is rich in history, ecologically diverse, and critical to the regional economy. Water managers in this basin have a long history of applying innovative, regional solutions to ensure the long-term sustainability of this treasured resource which provides drinking water to over 15 million people in the region.
![A 3D aerial view of Norristown, Pennsylvania shows where the Schuylkill River passes through the city.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/20230407_hazards_conlon_colgin.gif?itok=MurFOlDt)
A 3D aerial view of Norristown, Pennsylvania shows where the Schuylkill River passes through the city. The water in the river is shown in bright blue, while the surrounding city is shown in natural color.
A 3D aerial view of Norristown, Pennsylvania shows where the Schuylkill River passes through the city. The water in the river is shown in bright blue, while the surrounding city is shown in natural color.
The rise and fall of the Delaware River salt front. Over time, the location of the salt front moves in response to regional weather patterns, sea level rise, and human impacts. The precise location of the salt front in the Delaware River Basin is based on the location in the river where the average chloride concentration is 250 mg/L.
The rise and fall of the Delaware River salt front. Over time, the location of the salt front moves in response to regional weather patterns, sea level rise, and human impacts. The precise location of the salt front in the Delaware River Basin is based on the location in the river where the average chloride concentration is 250 mg/L.
Land cover is animated through time in the Delaware River Basin. The visual shows a map and chart reflecting the proportion of land area in 8 major land cover classes: water, agriculture, barren, forest, grassland, wetland and developed areas (low and high intensity). Time is broken into 10 year intervals.
Land cover is animated through time in the Delaware River Basin. The visual shows a map and chart reflecting the proportion of land area in 8 major land cover classes: water, agriculture, barren, forest, grassland, wetland and developed areas (low and high intensity). Time is broken into 10 year intervals.
![Photo of a camera system that will be tested to measure water level and surface velocity](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/new%20camera_0.jpg?itok=I3txSq2-)
Example of a camera system that will be tested to measure water level and surface velocity at the East Branch Brandywine Creek below Downingtown, PA.
Example of a camera system that will be tested to measure water level and surface velocity at the East Branch Brandywine Creek below Downingtown, PA.
The Ben Franklin Bridge stretches over the Delaware River. The Delaware River Basin provides water to big cities such as New York and Philadelphia.
The Ben Franklin Bridge stretches over the Delaware River. The Delaware River Basin provides water to big cities such as New York and Philadelphia.
![Water budget visualization for Buck Creek-Delaware River](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/water-budget-viz-lg.png?itok=zpL1aYM4)
Example water budget visualization for Buck Creek-Delaware River showing the difference between inflow and outflow components. Full visualization application is located at https://cida.usgs.gov/nwc-static/waterbudget-viz/
Example water budget visualization for Buck Creek-Delaware River showing the difference between inflow and outflow components. Full visualization application is located at https://cida.usgs.gov/nwc-static/waterbudget-viz/
Map of the Delaware River Basin
Report of the River Master of the Delaware River for the period December 1, 2015 - November 30, 2016
A spatial machine learning model developed from noisy data requires multiscale performance evaluation: Predicting depth to bedrock in the Delaware River Basin, USA
Train, inform, borrow, or combine? Approaches to process-guided deep learning for groundwater-influenced stream temperature prediction
Water-quality trends in the Delaware River Basin calculated using multisource data and two methods for trend periods ending in 2018
Streambank and floodplain geomorphic change and contribution to watershed material budgets
Water priorities for the Nation—USGS Integrated Water Science basins
Pesticides in US Rivers: Regional differences in use, occurrence, and environmental toxicity, 2013 to 2017
Evaluating low flow patterns, drivers and trends in the Delaware River Basin
Microplastics in the Delaware River, northeastern United States
Hydro-climatic drought in the Delaware River Basin
Prioritizing river basins for intensive monitoring and assessment by the US Geological Survey
A historical look at changing water quality in the Delaware River basin
Philadelphia Water Resources Monitoring
The Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) and USGS have been working together to create and expand the water-quality monitoring network for Philadelphia. Data from these gaging stations will allow PWD scientists and engineers to monitor spatial and temporal water quality/quantity trends in support of watershed restoration initiatives occurring in Philadelphia.
Assessing stream sediment conditions in Chester County, PA
This geonarrative describes the sediment and turbidity monitoring conducted as part of the Chester County - U.S. Geological Survey Cooperative Water Resources Program.
Chester County (Pennsylvania) Monitoring Networks
Since 1969, the Pennsylvania Water Science Center has had a cooperative program with Chester County to measure and describe water resources. Cooperation has been primarily with the Chester County Water Resources Authority, with participation from the Chester County Health Department.
The Chester County Monitoring Network web tool provides near real-time water data.
Delaware River Dashboard
Created for the Office of the Delaware River Master and supporting the USGS Next Generation Water Observing System Delaware River pilot, the Delaware River Dashboard shows provisional real-time water data collected at USGS observation stations in context with weather-related data from other public sources.
The Delaware River Basin Streamflow Estimator Tool (DRB-SET)
The Delaware River Basin Streamflow Estimator Tool (DRB-SET) estimates baseline and altered streamflow at a daily time step for ungaged stream locations in the Delaware River Basin for water years 1960-2010.
Many other partners have cooperated with USGS on local studies within the Delaware River Basin.
In Pennsylvania, the USGS's water-resources roots date back to the late 1800's, with the initiation of streamflow gaging on the Delaware and Susquehanna Rivers and assessments of groundwater resources near Philadelphia. The USGS Pennsylvania Water Science Center continues to provide scientific information about the water resources of the Delaware River Basin, in cooperation with regional and local agencies and stakeholders, and with other USGS Water Science Centers and national programs.
Recent Highlights
- Factsheet - Integrated Water Science Basins: Water Priorities for the Nation
- Publication: Hydro-Climatic Drought
- Publication: Low-flow Patterns, Drivers & Trends
- Factsheet - Integrated Water Availability Assessments: Water Priorities for the Nation
- Next Generation Water Observing System: Delaware River Basin
- Pooling Resources Across Organizations—Multisource Water-Quality Data for the Delaware River Basin
- Online tools for watershed managers: Northeast US
![USGS scientist surveys water levels on the Delaware River while streamflow measurements are made by boat.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/side_image/public/thumbnails/image/DSC07847.jpg?itok=pMJ_UVdO)
Next Generation Water Observing System: Delaware River Basin
Floodplains provide millions of dollars in benefits every year to people in the Chesapeake Bay and Delaware River watersheds
Regional Water Availability Assessment: Delaware River Basin
Paired Air and Water Temperature Monitoring for Next Generation Water Observing System
Delaware River Basin IWAAs Pilot
Streamflow Estimation from Advanced Imaging (LSPIV) in Pennsylvania
Office of the Delaware River Master
Delaware River Basin Focus Area Study
Delaware River Basin Focus Area Study: Process-Based Streamflow Modeling
Delaware River Basin Focus Area Study: Statistical Streamflow Modeling
Delaware River Basin Focus Area Study: Water Use
Delaware River Basin Focus Area Study: Ecological Flow Science
Quantifying Floodplain Ecological Processes and Ecosystem Services in the Delaware River Watershed
Long-term database of historical, current, and future land cover for the Delaware River Basin (1680 through 2100)
Daily-timestep and monthly-timestep estimates of baseflow at 49 reference stream gages located within 25 miles of the Delaware River basin watershed boundary for the years 1950 through 2015
Physico-chemical characteristics and sediment and nutrient fluxes of floodplains, streambanks, and streambeds in the Chesapeake Bay and Delaware River watersheds
Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Water-Quality and Sonar Measurements in Delaware River near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2019
Multi-source surface-water-quality data and U.S. Geological Survey streamgage match for the Delaware River Basin
Estimated Use of Water by Subbasin (HUC8 and HUC12) in the Delaware River Basin, 2010
Fairmount Waterworks, east bank of Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, PA
Fairmount Waterworks, east bank of Schuylkill River, Aquarium Drive, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA. View looking northeast at waterworks from across Schuylkill River. Photo taken December, 1984.
![Field Trip with PAWSC staff to a Delaware River NGWOS station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Video thumbnail for a video. Text reads: Field Trip with the PAWSC to Philadelphia PA. Image of sensor and bridge behind.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/Field%20Trip%20with%20the%20PAWSC%20to%20Philadelphia%20PA.png?itok=Fc8XVLWc)
The Delaware River is rich in history, ecologically diverse, and critical to the regional economy. Water managers in this basin have a long history of applying innovative, regional solutions to ensure the long-term sustainability of this treasured resource which provides drinking water to over 15 million people in the region.
The Delaware River is rich in history, ecologically diverse, and critical to the regional economy. Water managers in this basin have a long history of applying innovative, regional solutions to ensure the long-term sustainability of this treasured resource which provides drinking water to over 15 million people in the region.
![A 3D aerial view of Norristown, Pennsylvania shows where the Schuylkill River passes through the city.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/20230407_hazards_conlon_colgin.gif?itok=MurFOlDt)
A 3D aerial view of Norristown, Pennsylvania shows where the Schuylkill River passes through the city. The water in the river is shown in bright blue, while the surrounding city is shown in natural color.
A 3D aerial view of Norristown, Pennsylvania shows where the Schuylkill River passes through the city. The water in the river is shown in bright blue, while the surrounding city is shown in natural color.
The rise and fall of the Delaware River salt front. Over time, the location of the salt front moves in response to regional weather patterns, sea level rise, and human impacts. The precise location of the salt front in the Delaware River Basin is based on the location in the river where the average chloride concentration is 250 mg/L.
The rise and fall of the Delaware River salt front. Over time, the location of the salt front moves in response to regional weather patterns, sea level rise, and human impacts. The precise location of the salt front in the Delaware River Basin is based on the location in the river where the average chloride concentration is 250 mg/L.
Land cover is animated through time in the Delaware River Basin. The visual shows a map and chart reflecting the proportion of land area in 8 major land cover classes: water, agriculture, barren, forest, grassland, wetland and developed areas (low and high intensity). Time is broken into 10 year intervals.
Land cover is animated through time in the Delaware River Basin. The visual shows a map and chart reflecting the proportion of land area in 8 major land cover classes: water, agriculture, barren, forest, grassland, wetland and developed areas (low and high intensity). Time is broken into 10 year intervals.
![Photo of a camera system that will be tested to measure water level and surface velocity](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/new%20camera_0.jpg?itok=I3txSq2-)
Example of a camera system that will be tested to measure water level and surface velocity at the East Branch Brandywine Creek below Downingtown, PA.
Example of a camera system that will be tested to measure water level and surface velocity at the East Branch Brandywine Creek below Downingtown, PA.
The Ben Franklin Bridge stretches over the Delaware River. The Delaware River Basin provides water to big cities such as New York and Philadelphia.
The Ben Franklin Bridge stretches over the Delaware River. The Delaware River Basin provides water to big cities such as New York and Philadelphia.
![Water budget visualization for Buck Creek-Delaware River](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/water-budget-viz-lg.png?itok=zpL1aYM4)
Example water budget visualization for Buck Creek-Delaware River showing the difference between inflow and outflow components. Full visualization application is located at https://cida.usgs.gov/nwc-static/waterbudget-viz/
Example water budget visualization for Buck Creek-Delaware River showing the difference between inflow and outflow components. Full visualization application is located at https://cida.usgs.gov/nwc-static/waterbudget-viz/
Map of the Delaware River Basin
Report of the River Master of the Delaware River for the period December 1, 2015 - November 30, 2016
A spatial machine learning model developed from noisy data requires multiscale performance evaluation: Predicting depth to bedrock in the Delaware River Basin, USA
Train, inform, borrow, or combine? Approaches to process-guided deep learning for groundwater-influenced stream temperature prediction
Water-quality trends in the Delaware River Basin calculated using multisource data and two methods for trend periods ending in 2018
Streambank and floodplain geomorphic change and contribution to watershed material budgets
Water priorities for the Nation—USGS Integrated Water Science basins
Pesticides in US Rivers: Regional differences in use, occurrence, and environmental toxicity, 2013 to 2017
Evaluating low flow patterns, drivers and trends in the Delaware River Basin
Microplastics in the Delaware River, northeastern United States
Hydro-climatic drought in the Delaware River Basin
Prioritizing river basins for intensive monitoring and assessment by the US Geological Survey
A historical look at changing water quality in the Delaware River basin
Philadelphia Water Resources Monitoring
The Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) and USGS have been working together to create and expand the water-quality monitoring network for Philadelphia. Data from these gaging stations will allow PWD scientists and engineers to monitor spatial and temporal water quality/quantity trends in support of watershed restoration initiatives occurring in Philadelphia.
Assessing stream sediment conditions in Chester County, PA
This geonarrative describes the sediment and turbidity monitoring conducted as part of the Chester County - U.S. Geological Survey Cooperative Water Resources Program.
Chester County (Pennsylvania) Monitoring Networks
Since 1969, the Pennsylvania Water Science Center has had a cooperative program with Chester County to measure and describe water resources. Cooperation has been primarily with the Chester County Water Resources Authority, with participation from the Chester County Health Department.
The Chester County Monitoring Network web tool provides near real-time water data.
Delaware River Dashboard
Created for the Office of the Delaware River Master and supporting the USGS Next Generation Water Observing System Delaware River pilot, the Delaware River Dashboard shows provisional real-time water data collected at USGS observation stations in context with weather-related data from other public sources.
The Delaware River Basin Streamflow Estimator Tool (DRB-SET)
The Delaware River Basin Streamflow Estimator Tool (DRB-SET) estimates baseline and altered streamflow at a daily time step for ungaged stream locations in the Delaware River Basin for water years 1960-2010.
Many other partners have cooperated with USGS on local studies within the Delaware River Basin.